Wamen HAM: Brimob Assault Student to Death in Maluku Violates Human Rights Law

Illustration of a police officer. (Antara)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Human Rights (Wamen HAM) Mugiyanto said the actions of members of the mobile brigade (brimob) who abused a child to death in Tual, Maluku, were a form of violation of Law Number 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights.

Mugiyanto expressed his condolences over the incident and deeply regretted that fatal violence by the police was still happening.

"What the brimob members did is a serious form of persecution, and is a violation of the Human Rights Law and the Convention against Torture which we ratified in 1998," he said in his statement confirmed in Jakarta, Sunday, quoted by Antara.

Therefore, he emphasized that the Ministry of Human Rights urged a transparent and thorough investigation into this incident. He also said that his party would monitor closely.

"If it is proven that the perpetrator is brought to court with a firm and fair sentence," he said.

In addition, the Ministry of Human Rights will ensure that victims and their families have the right to justice and recovery. This is as the task and function of the Ministry of Human Rights which is responsible for organizing government affairs in the field of human rights.

"The victim's family must also have the right to recovery from the perpetrator," he said.

Mugiyanto further said that the Ministry of Human Rights would not tire of asking the National Police to continue to reform itself, including improving the performance of all its members to be more respectful of and uphold human rights principles.

"The motto of the National Police as servants and caretakers of the community must be proven by concrete actions, not just jargon written in police offices," he said.

It is known that the Tual Police (Polres) in Maluku, has named a member of the brimob with the initials MS as a suspect in the alleged case of abuse to death of a student with the initials AT (14), a student of a tsanawiyah madrasah (MTs).

"Currently, the survey process has risen to the fingerprint and the status of Bripda MS from the reported to the suspect," said Police Chief of Tual AKBP Whansi Des Asmoro when contacted from Ambon, Saturday, February 21.

The incident began when the brimob patrol carried out a create conditions activity using tactical vehicles in the Tual City and Maluku Tenggara Regency areas, Thursday, February 19, early morning.

The patrol was initially at the Mangga Dua Complex, Langgur, until around 02.00 WIT. Then, it shifted to Fiditan Village, Tual City, after receiving reports from residents regarding the alleged beating around the Tete Pancing area.

While at the location, Bripda MS along with a number of other officers got out of the vehicle and carried out security. About 10 minutes later, two motorbikes sped at high speed from the direction of Ngadi to Tete Pancing.

Bripda MS is said to have swung a tactical helmet as a signal. However, the helmet hit the right temple of AT until the victim fell from his motorcycle in a prone position.

The victim was then rushed to the Karel Sadsuitubun Langgur District General Hospital for medical treatment. However, at 13.00 WIT, the victim was declared dead.

Bripda MS was charged with Article 76C in conjunction with Article 80 paragraph (3) of Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection, with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

In addition, the suspect was also charged with Article 466 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, regarding persecution which resulted in death with a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.